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Protein-rich products, prepared from industrial rapeseed meal, have the potential for versatile applications in the food, feed, and nutraceutical industries. The aim of study was to characterize the biochemical composition of two protein-rich products obtained from industrially produced rapeseed meal. Protein isolate (PI) and acid soluble protein (ASP) were prepared by alkaline extraction (pH 12.0) followed by isoelectric precipitation (pH 4.5). Biochemical analyses revealed that PI contained a high protein amount (86.9%), while ASP had 28.8% protein and a relatively high level of non- protein compounds including ash (20.6%) and fiber (30.0%). Results showed that neither protein products contained glucosinolates. They were rich in microelements; the most abundant were Cu (64.3 mg kg-1) and Fe (133 mg kg-1) in PI and Mn (39.7 mg kg-1) and Zn (84.2 mg kg-1) in ASP. PI and ASP were also a good source of Se (1.1 mg kg-1 and 0.9 mg kg-1, respectively). Lysine was the most abundant essential amino acid in PI with amino acid score of 100.7% followed by leucine (98.3%) and valine (95.8%). Both protein products were mainly composed of low molecular weight fractions (5 to 33 kDa), but in different ratio. The PI contained two fractions with molecular weights 53 and 235 kDa which were not found in ASP. In conclusion, PI and ASP exhibited different biochemical characteristics which make them suitable for different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methionine is an essential amino acid for animals and is typically considered one of the first limiting amino acids in animal feed formulations. Methionine deficiency or excess in animal diets can lead to sub-optimal animal performance and increased environmental pollution, which necessitates its accurate quantification and proper dosage in animal rations. Animal bioassays are the current industry standard to quantify methionine bioavailability. However, animal-based assays are not only time consuming, but expensive and are becoming more scrutinized by governmental regulations. In addition, a variety of artifacts can hinder the variability and time efficacy of these assays. Microbiological assays, which are based on a microbial response to external supplementation of a particular nutrient such as methionine, appear to be attractive potential alternatives to the already established standards. They are rapid and inexpensive in vitro assays which are characterized with relatively accurate and consistent estimation of digestible methionine in feeds and feed ingredients. The current review discusses the potential to develop Escherichia coli-based microbial biosensors for methionine bioavailability quantification. Methionine biosynthesis and regulation pathways are overviewed in relation to genetic manipulation required for the generation of a respective methionine auxotroph that could be practical for a routine bioassay. A prospective utilization of Escherichia coli methionine biosensor would allow for inexpensive and rapid methionine quantification and ultimately enable timely assessment of nutritional profiles of feedstuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In animal diets optimal amino acid quantities and balance among amino acids is of great nutritional importance. Essential amino acid deficiencies have negative impacts on animal physiology, most often expressed in sub-optimal body weight gains. Over supplementation of diets with amino acids is costly and can increase the nitrogen emissions from animals. Although in vivo animal assays for quantification of amino acid bioavailability are well established, Escherichia coli-based bioassays are viable potential alternatives in terms of accuracy, cost, and time input. E. coli inhabits the gastrointestinal tract and although more abundant in colon, a relatively high titer of E. coli can also be isolated from the small intestine, where primary absorption of amino acids and peptides occur. After feed proteins are digested, liberated amino acids and small peptides are assimilated by both the small intestine and E. coli. The similar pattern of uptake is a necessary prerequisite to establish E. coli cells as accurate amino acid biosensors. In fact, amino acid transporters in both intestinal and E. coli cells are stereospecific, delivering only the respective biological L-forms. The presence of free amino- and carboxyl groups is critical for amino acid and dipeptide transport in both biological subjects. Di-, tri- and tetrapeptides can enter enterocytes; likewise only di-, tri- and tetrapeptides support E. coli growth. These similarities in addition to the well known bacterial genetics make E. coli an optimal bioassay microorganism for the assessment of nutritionally available amino acids in feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a fluorescent whole-cell Escherichia coli biosensor previously developed in our laboratory, we determined total and bioavailable lysine in four feed ingredients (soybean, cottonseed, meat and bone meal, and sorghum) and three complete feeds (chick starter and finisher, and swine starter). The same feed sources were analyzed for total lysine by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and bioavailable lysine by chick bioassay. No significant differences were found between bioavailable lysine estimates for soybean, cottonseed, meat and bone meal, chick starter and finisher, and swine starter obtained by the fluorescent E. coli biosensor and chick bioassay. Except for sorghum, the E. coli biosensor estimates for total lysine were highly comparable to those obtained by HPLC. Comparisons were also conducted between conventionally performed optical density-based and the newly developed fluorescence-based lysine assay. The lack of significant differences in data obtained for total and bioavailable lysine by both detection modes indicated reliance and accuracy of the fluorescent E. coli biosensor. Overall results suggest that the microbial assay based on green fluorescent protein fluorescence represents a promising alternative method for lysine quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]